Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Wilma Ann
  • Other Names: None recorded
  • Vessel Type: Wooden Fish Tug (later converted to Fuel Boat)
  • Date Built: 1932
  • Builder: Not confirmed — likely built by one of the established Owen Sound Tug builders of the era
  • Place Built: Owen Sound, Ontario
  • Dimensions: Exact dimensions unrecorded; estimated length around 40-45 feet (12-14 metres) typical for Great Lakes fish tugs of the era
  • Registry Number: Unknown
  • Owners: Various commercial owners through her career
  • Date Scuttled: 1983
  • Final Location: Kokanongwi Shingle, southwest of Killarney, Georgian Bay
  • Coordinates: 45°56.262’N, 81°33.457’W
  • Depth of Wreck: 20-24 metres (65-80 feet)

Vessel Type

Wooden Fish Tug / Converted Fuel Boat

The Wilma Ann began her life as a classic wooden fish Tug, designed for commercial fishing in the demanding waters of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron. Later in her career, she was converted into a fuel boat, likely serving remote fishing and tourism outposts, delivering fuel and supplies to locations with limited infrastructure.

Description

Built in Owen Sound in 1932, the Wilma Ann reflects the traditional sturdy design of Great Lakes fish tugs — small enough to maneuver close to shore, but rugged enough to handle open water. After decades of service, her working life ended in 1983, when she was deliberately scuttled off Kokanongwi Shingle, southwest of Killarney.

Her final sinking created an Artificial Reef for divers, though the site’s limited Visibility and silting tendency make it challenging under certain conditions.

Final Disposition

  • Date of Scuttling: 1983
  • Method: Deliberate sinking
  • Reason: End of useful service life
  • Current Condition: Largely intact but increasingly fragile due to age, freshwater exposure, and biological activity.

Site Description

The Wilma Ann rests between 20-24 metres (65-80 feet). Due to the silty bottom and proximity to Kokanongwi Shingle, the site is notorious for:

  • Reduced Visibility (often 3-5 metres or 10-15 feet).
  • Visibility that deteriorates quickly with diver movement.
  • Water temperatures at depth that remain cold, often below 10°C (50°F).

Structural Highlights:

  • Intact sections of the wooden Hull.
  • Deck and cabin remnants.
  • Artifacts from her fuel transport Conversion, including some pipeline fittings.

Experience Rating

✅ Intermediate to Advanced
This dive requires:

  • Comfort with limited Visibility.
  • Ability to maintain good buoyancy control to avoid silting.
  • Cold water experience, requiring 7mm wetsuit with hood/gloves or drysuit.

Directions to Site

  1. Depart from Killarney Harbour.
  2. Navigate west, then south toward Kokanongwi Shingle.
  3. Locate the marker buoy east of the shingle — the wreck lies in this area.

GPS Coordinates: 45°56.262’N, 81°33.457’W

NOTMARs & Advisories

  • No official NOTMARs apply to this site.
  • Dive flag required — the area sees occasional boat traffic, especially from fishing charters and recreational boaters.

Located By & Date Found

  • Documented in local dive logs after her deliberate scuttling in 1983.
  • Regularly dived by Killarney area dive charters and recreational divers since.

Current Condition & Accessibility

  • Depth: 20-24 metres (65-80 feet)
  • Bottom Type: Silt, easily stirred up
  • Water Temperature: Cold year-round (below the thermocline)
  • Visibility: 3-5 metres (10-15 feet) — can be worse after storms
  • Recommended Gear: 7mm wetsuit (minimum) or drysuit, dive light essential

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The Wilma Ann represents the evolution of working vessels on the Great Lakes — built for one purpose (commercial fishing), adapted for another (fuel transport), and finally retired as a dive attraction.

She offers a real sense of Great Lakes working heritage, and despite her limited Visibility, remains a popular destination for experienced divers. For those willing to brave the cold and silt, the Wilma Ann rewards with historical charm and challenging exploration.

Keywords & Categories

Wilma Ann, Fish Tug, Fuel Boat, Killarney Shipwreck, Georgian Bay Wreck, Kokanongwi Shingle, Great Lakes Shipwreck, Historical Diving Site, Artificial Reef, Intermediate Dive, Ontario Shipwrecks